Selfsufficientish.com

I've done a little bit inspired by your idea of using milk cartons:



Next year, I'm planning to build a stronger frame in order to take more cartons and make even more use of my vertical space.

Wulf

looks good Wulf, Well done!

Nev

What you can't see in that picture are the copious amounts of string used to strengthen the supporting canes. I'd originally planned ten or more cartons but had to do some hasty revision when I realised the weight of all that earth, especially when wet!

Still, it's the most success I've ever had with basil, providing it somewhere warm and dry with plenty of sun (north facing garden, so raising the plants gives them a longer period when they're not being shaded by buildings). I'll definitely be looking at further experiments next year.

Wulf

Hi Wulf,what can I say,but thank you. At last some one has used my system and can prove it, be it on a small scale. With your good photo to prove it works, I'm sure more people who like to grow things will now try it too. Thank you once again. John JRP.

I thought I better write something about what I've been doing otherwise you may think I have given up. Whilst we have had a lot of rain laterly I've still been putting my bits of potatos into my container system after taking out my cops of potatos to eat.
I've also just finished picking my tomatoes which were sown on the 7-4-2005,in total 345,even though I stopped them from growing to high,with no canes supports to fit into my sections,and having chicking wire over them to stop?
I'm still picking French beans sown on the 15-2-2005,I've even got strawberries growing on my old plants which I thought had finished flowering.
Lots of my old onions,spring onions,and leeks and carrots are still alive sown on the 12-1-2004,5-5-2004,24-5-2004,which proves to me mother nature will grow things in my containers better than if they were left in the ground to be eaten by what ever,instead of being eaten if they were not harvested. May you all live long and happy John. JRP.

That's great John! It sounds like you are doing really well.

Nev

Hello again,another month has gone by and still no one has used my idea to help the poor.
I tried to get a answer why not from Penny Poyzer on the environment forum website the other day,as people claim she is the Queen of recycling,but I got no reply because of one thing and another.
May be after Christmas when I've been on TV again some one will help me.
Until then I will have to just keep on asking new people who don't know me to take a look at my website in the hope it might be of interest to them,in the way of being a different way of re-using waste plastic containers and unwanted wooden pallets to be of benefit,instead of going into lanfill sites. God bless George Best a legend in his own life time.
May you,all live long and happy. John JRP.

John, you got some good ideas buddy, but tell me...Have you ever visited one of the places where you think your stuff would make the most difference? Like somewhere in Africa? Not being cheeky, but, well, theory and practice are very different things...

Hi Matty,thank you for showing your interest in my growing idea. The reason I haven't tried my way of growing things in another country is we all live under the same sun and moon no matter where we live. My system works in the UK very well in all weathers,so I can not see any reason why people can't use it where they live,be it a tent,house,cave,or on a boat house. My very simple to make transportable recycling system can be used to grow food to eat,or to put what ever into,be it water or other things on a small or large scale. 4 containers will self stand 2 faceing away from each other on each side for example,with a lenth of flat wood past through the upside down container handle space,to then be carried,tied up,nailed up,hung up,or put on water with the caps done up of course.
Plus the fact I built my website to show millions of people who I hope at least will try my way out to see what they can grow,like I am in the UK for next to nothing,and with very little gardening knowledge my self.
Each year I'm learning about how mother nature works her magic in my containers,all recorded in many way to refer to later,when others might want to know things,which no one else can tell them about,only me.
In the new year ther will be a documentary programme all about secret gardens in surburbia on SKY TV,which I did in June this year.
I hope you and others see it,and I hope I've answered your questions,as I'm not very good with words.
May you live long and happy,and you try my way of doing things. John JRP.

Hi Matty,thank you very much for your private message you sent to me, I was shocked to hear we sent lots of rubbish to your country already which is you say is basicly crap as you put it.
I hope my re-use of the tyres idea will help to turn some of the crap into something useful. I forgot to say you can fill all the spaces in the tyre walls centres with lots of those plastic water bags to help to stop any movement, plus the very bottom base ones too,to help stop the termites getting to the wooden floor,plus with the floor tyles on they should last a bit longer. I would also use the tyres as a base for my bed plywood to lay on,and my table top,and to sit on too. You can also use the tyres to build a tyre wall around any land in the same way,filling them up with what ever to keep them in place. You can also use them to grow things in too, in the same way by useing those plastic bags,and those blue bottles to get a end result. I would also re-use what ever old worn out clothes you did not want any more to cover my crops area, in the way we use straw and hourse manure to make a layer on our soil,as the materials would hold water,protect the crop roots from the sun,and the animals,which may look like a rubbish tip but I'm sure it would work,in the way like we put black plastic sheets, compost or bark chippings down to cover the land to be of benefit.
I will look forward to you telling me you are now trying to growing something in the way I have suggested, that I beleive has never been done before,like many of my other ideas.
Which may help to feed you and your poor people living in GHANA'S.
Power to the people who are doing their bit to help others. John. JRP.

Hi,to any one who's interested. I've just put 2 photos on my website to show you what I have made,which I believe have never been made before,so please be one of the first people to take a look at something different on my website,www.recycling.moonfruit.com under
THINGS TO MAKE. As seeing is believing,when it comes to something new. John. JRP.

Recycling your way to success with the ladies,as reported in our local news paper today 15-2-2006.
For years the answer to one impossible question has eluded most men - what makes women happy?
According to a news survey the answer is not flowers,gifts,or a candlelit dinner but something far simpler and cheaper - RECYCLING.
Research by Lewisham Council shows of 2,000 women asked,65 per cent said they would find their MEN SEXIER if they recyled.
Only a quarter of men in the borough currently recycle regularly.
The council is now URGING MEN TO BOOST TEIR CHANCES with the ladies by recycling their VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS and CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES.
What a load of RUBBISH my wife said,mind you I'm a RE-USER so I think this does not apply to me,or does it,I will have to try buying some flowers first,and maybe a gift,I don't know about a candlelit dinner,no I think I will tell my wife I'm recycling now instead of re-using,IT WILL WORK OUT CHEAPER. I can't wait for the upturn in my sex life. John JRP.

Hahahaha - that is a classic!! We should have a poll on the board...

Classic John.

It was recycling day on valentines day for me so could not be better. I don't think that Emma (my lady) finds it that romantic when I fish stuff out of the bin shouting compost at her thought.

Mmh, so that is the reason behind the falling birth rates? Or do they have a different definition for the word "sexy" than the one I've got in mind... 8)